R. D. HURST.

Page 346-347

Among Livingston county's progressive native sons who have become deservedly
successful in farming operations is R. D. Hurst, owner of an excellent property
of two hundred acres lying on sections 16, 20 and 6, Cream Ridge township. His
birth occurred January 20, 1862, four miles southeast of Chula, and he is a son
of Joseph and Margaret (Brown) Hurst. The father came from Pennsylvania in 1837
and settled upon a farm in Livingston county, where he became very prominent and
well known in agricultural and public life. He passed away in 1879, at the age
of forty-nine, and is buried in the Wallace cemetery. His wife survives him and
makes her home on a farm in Grundy county.

R. D. Hurst acquired his education in the district schools of Grundy county,
attending during the winter months and spending his summers assisting his
father. At the age of twenty he laid aside his books and remained upon the
homestead for six years thereafter, purchasing at the end of that time a farm on
section 16, which forms a portion of his present holdings. He has increased this
by judicious purchases to its present proportions, owning two hundred acres on
sections 16, 20 and 6. Upon this property he has made substantial improvements,
erecting a fine residence, barns and outbuildings and installing all the
necessary equipment and accessories. In addition to general farming Mr. Hurst is
also extensively interested in stock-raising, keeping fine herds of cattle and
hogs. He is a director in the Farmers & Merchants Bank and in all of his
business interests shows a keen discrimination and sound judgment. Whatever he
undertakes he carries forward to successful completion, and unfaltering industry
is numbered among his most salient characteristics.

Mr. Hurst married, in Grundy county, on January 28, 1886, Miss Isabelle Wolf,
a daughter of Daniel and Mahala (Kleinsmith) Wolf, the former a prominent former
of that section of the state. Both have passed away and are buried in the Toll
cemetery, Grundy county. Mr. and Mrs. Hurst became the parents of two children:
Daniel O., who is farming on his father's property in Livingston county; and
Ethel, who is a graduate of the Chula schools and who is living at home. The
family hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South.

Mr. Hurst gives his allegiance to the democratic party and has served his
fellow citizens as road master and as member of the township board. In all of
his business dealings he is thoroughly reliable and in matters of citizenship
helpful and progressive, giving his aid and influence to many movements for the
public good.